Beer tastings, beer dinners, and beer festivals

Opportunities to discover new beers, to learn about breweries, and to experience wonderful pairings of food with beer are increasing around the US. Merchant du Vin participates in many events: beer dinners that include beers from our portfolio, retail tastings, beer education classes, and beer festivals.

Archive of News, Reviews, and Accolades

March 15, 2017: Announcing: the seventh annual Samuel Smith Salute, coming April 16 - 22, 2017! News release as a 1.6 MB .pdf, with links and graphics, is right here; a text-only version is right here.

March 1, 2017: Orval Day 2017 is Saturday March 25! News release as a 1.5 MB.pdf right here; a text-only version is here. More about Orval Day, and events across the US, can be found here; more about this iconic Trappist brewery (including a 5 minute video) is here. #OrvalDay2017.

February 23, 2017: Trappist range found to have life! While Earth-like planets around the star Trappist-1 may not have life, every bottle-conditoned Trappist beer that we import does: let's name the #TrappistPlanets! News release as a .pdf of 735 KB right here. Toast the star with the beer: Orval, Rochefort, or Westmalle.

January 3, 2017: Announcing: Samuel Smith's Organic Perry, delicious Certific Organic sparkling pear cider! News release as a .pdf of 145 KB right here; a text-only version is right here.

October 18, 2016: We are proud to announce that Du Bocq Saison 1858 is on the way to the US in kegs: you will soon be able to enjoy this classic Belgian ale on draft in the US, for the first time ever. Details here as an 877 KB .pdf with pictures; for a text-only version click here.

August 2, 2016: Annual favorite Ayinger Oktober Fest-Marzen is beginning to arrive at beer spots now, and will be at most beer spots by Labor Day. News release as a .pdf of 248 KB right here; a text-only version is right here.

July 19, 2016: Yorkshire Day is August 1, and that's also the official kickoff for the 2016 release of Samuel Smith's Yorkshire Stingo. This delicious barrel-aged, bottle-conditioned strong ale is extremely limited - get it when you see it in August! Stingo 2016 details here as a 319 KB .pdf.

April 23, 2016: The 500th Anniversary of Germany's Reinheitsgebot! This 1516 edict from Wilhem IV of Bavaria is still important to brewers in Germany, and is the main topic of our April 2016 e-newsletter. Raise an Ayinger or Pinkus beer to experience the #Reinheitsgebot yourself!

February 24, 2016: Orval Day 2016 will be held Saturday, March 26, 2016. News release as a .pdf of 1.2 MB right here; a text-only version is right here. Check our events pages for an Orval Day event near you: join us appreciating a Trappist brewery that brews a true global classic, Orval Trappist Ale.

Nov. 23, 2015: Lindemans Oude Kriek Cuvée René and Lindemans/Mikkeller SpontanBasil are coming to the US in February 2016! Oude Kriek announcement here in .pdf; SpontanBasil announcement in .pdf here; a news release for both in text only is right here.

August 4, 2015: Ayinger Oktober Fest-Marzen is arriving at beer spots now, and there's pretty big news: this year four-packs are joining half-liter bottles and kegs! News here as a 294 KB .pdf. A text-only version is here.

May 12, 2015: We had a lineup of pioneering American brewers Salute Samuel Smith's Brewery on April 15, 2015 - check out the photo: a 246 KB .pdf. Additional pictures here; event was at Saraveza in Portland, OR.

March 11, 2014: Announcing the limited release of Ayinger Maibock, a rich, bold, inviting spring seasonal beer. Available on draft only. News release: 220 KB .pdf with graphics; a text-only version is right here.

December 26, 2013: Below is a video of a traditional Flemish hop harvest song performed at t'Hoppecruyt, a hop farm near Poperinge, Belgium, during a Belgian Family Brewers Association November 2013 media event. Benedikte Desmyter-Coutigny, the performer, runs this hop farm with her husband.

On April 10, 2013, the band Taddy Porter visited the Seattle office of Merchant du Vin and played a few songs. They are touring now - check their website and go see them! Here's a video of the first single off their new album, "Fever."

On March 4, 2013, 68 guests at a beer dinner in Wichita, KS, drank a toast with Samuel Smith's Organic Chocolate Stout: